How Will Fraser has grown into the job at Saracens

Super-sized Will Fraser has revealed how piling on the pounds during his recent injury lay-off can help boost his England chances.
Saracens openside Fraser suffered a blow in November when he damaged foot and ankle ligaments against Sale. But he has used his time off wisely, working with performance director Phillip Morrow to add extra bulk.
Morrow has a rich history of helping players achieve physical peak, having assisted in transforming the careers of Lions back rowers Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien as conditioning boss of Ireland before joining Saracens.
And Fraser, 24, who returned against Newcastle last week, hopes to see the benefit of a fitness regime that over the last two seasons has seen his weight mushroom from 99kg (15st 8lb) to a startling 108kg (17st).
“It’s been a pretty dramatic change but following my first full season in 2011-12, although I was playing well, the coaches and I basically agreed I was playing with one arm tied behind my back,” Fraser told The Rugby Paper.
“They thought if I could put on a decent amount of size and strength it would enhance me as a player, so I put a few kilos on then. But my latest injury has given me another chance to boost that size and strength further.
“The coaches feel that it’ll help maximise my potential. If I’m bigger and stronger it will help when I’m over the ball and carrying, defending and making hits and I felt pretty good when I came back at Newcastle.
“If you’re too heavy you’re not going to be able to get round the pitch, but now I’m a decent weight and can carry it, I can make an even bigger impact physically. My lungs were burning at Newcastle but I felt surprisingly good.”
Citing the impact of Morrow, Fraser explained: “He’s been hugely influential. He’s very blunt and tells you what he wants, but he’s completely changed what I do nutritionally and physically.
“Phil’s obviously spent a lot of time with Ireland so he’s worked with the likes of Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien, who started out pretty light as well. They made similar gains and the results have been clear.
“I’ve not modelled myself on them, they’re just examples of people who’ve put on size and used it to their advantage. But Phil and Mark McCall recognised it could help me as well and there’s been a silver-lining to my injury.”
Fraser was strongly tipped to go on England’s tour to Argentina last summer before shoulder surgery intervened, but he still has an outside chance of making this June’s trip to New Zealand.
“It would be a big bonus, but who knows?” he said. “I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the coaches and just need to play well for Saracens. I’m not expecting anything, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Fraser knows winning trophies with Saracens would help, adding: “Coming so close last year was disappointing but that might actually help. We’re massively keen for silverware and we’re well positioned to win some.”
NEALE HARVEY